New cancer campaign aims to raise awareness of cancer in men living with HIV

Cheshire and Merseyside Cancer Alliance (CMCA) is working with HIV charity George House Trust to launch a new awareness campaign.

The campaign aims to empower communities to understand their increased risk, break down taboos, and encourage men who have sex with men (MSM) to seek help early if they have symptoms.

Thanks to antiretroviral therapy, the vast majority of people living with HIV in the UK now have a normal life expectancy. However, as the community ages, managing long-term health outside of HIV is crucial. While anal cancer is a rare condition, people living with HIV are approximately 19 times more likely to be diagnosed than the general population.

For men who engage in sex with other men, the risk is more than three times higher than for other men living with HIV. It is important to recognise while gay and bisexual men make up a large part of this group, this includes all men who engage in sex with other men.

This campaign addresses these risks directly, acknowledging that while many people find it difficult to discuss anal health, early diagnosis makes treatment far more effective.

The initiative features a series of social media assets and physical posters hosted in Axess sexual health clinics across Cheshire and Merseyside. Central to the campaign is a new blog post by Dr Paul Hine, an HIV Specialist in Liverpool, who provides expert guidance on why the HIV clinic is the best place to start these conversations.

Darren Knight, Chief Executive at George House Trust, said:

“As gay and bisexual men living with HIV are at increased risk of anal cancer, at George House Trust we’re committed making sure we’re helping people have open conversations, feel confident talking about anal cancer and ensure everyone knows the signs, symptoms and the support that’s available. It’s so important that we’re raising awareness and getting people talking about anal cancer.”

Jon Hayes, Managing Director of Cheshire and Merseyside Cancer Alliance, said:

“The campaign is designed to give people who need it, the knowledge to act when they first notice something that is not right for them – and to give them information on how to reduce their risk of developing anal cancer in the first place.”

The campaign also highlights practical steps for risk reduction, including the HPV vaccination, which is recommended for MSM and people living with HIV aged 45 and under, and the use of condoms.

The campaign launched this week and will involve healthcare partners and community organisations across the North West. Resources will be available via the George House Trust and CMCA websites.